Все основные предлоги времени английского языка (on, at, in, from, to, for, since, ago, before, till/until, by) с кратким объяснением и примерами на одной странице.
at, on, in
at always indicates an exact and specific time.
Example:
- I started working at 9 AM.
- The film starts at 7 PM.
- The shop closes at 1.30 AM.
Note: Exceptions are that we say – at the weekend, at night, at Christmas, at Easter, at the moment, etc.
on:
on generally indicates a fixed date or a day.
Example:
- I’ll see her on Saturday.
- He broke a record on Monday morning.
- I have a meeting on 27 October.
in:
in generally indicates an indefinite and unspecific time of months, seasons, years, centuries, etc.
Example:
- I will get a holiday in November.
- Grisha was born in 2001.
- I love playing cricket in summer.
Note: Some very common exceptions are – in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, in five minutes, in six days, in two years, etc.
from ... to, until, since, for
from ... to:
from ... to indicates a fixed time-span with the beginning and the end.
Example:
- I worked there from 2012 to 2020.
- I usually work from Friday to Monday.
- I will stay there from 9 AM to 7 PM.
until/till:
until/till indicates a specific or unspecific time/event up to a point.
Example:
- They will not return until Friday.
- Wait for me until I return.
- I do not give up until I am succeeded.
- I will be there until Tuesday.
since:
since indicates a time-span beginning in a time in the past and still continuing in the present (now).
Example:
- Maxim has been in the village since Sunday.
- He has been suffering from fever since Friday.
- Roman and Susan have been friends since childhood.
for:
for indicates a period of time (amount of time) in the past, present or future.
Example:
- He stayed there for four days.
- I will be staying there for five months.
- I will work with them for a year.
- He was standing there for a long time.
before, after, during, by
before:
before indicates a prior event/ period of time from a point.
Example:
- Roman was very nervous before the interview.
- I want to leave before lunch.
- These batsmen should not get out before the tea break.
- Before going, close all the window.
after:
after indicates a following event/period of time from a point. This preposition is the exact opposite of before.
Example:
- Roman felt confident after the interview.
- I want to leave after lunch.
- after playing football, we went home.
during:
during indicates a period of time throughout the course or duration of any event or action.
Example:
- Nikolay was sleeping during the film.
- They don’t talk during dinner.
- I don’t usually smoke during office time.
by:
by means ‘within the extent or period of; during’ something.
Example:
- I will complete the assignment by Sunday.
- He will return by 6 PM.
- I will submit the list by 11 AM.
Упражнения к этому уроку